Less is more for electronic madman Daniel Constantine, who uses his laptop and midi controller to explore a whole range of different gritty, lo fi soundscapes. He’s breaking the mould this coming Friday, September 12th at The Espy, where he’ll be the only electro artist battling it out in a line up of rock bands for round one of Emergenza Festival Australia. Before he takes the stage, we sit down to get to know the artist a little better.

WHAT FIRST SPARKED YOUR INTEREST IN SONGWRITING?
From starting drums at the age of nine, then taking up DJing at 19, it was only matter of time before I would recognise my purpose in this world is to make music. I’ve even had a kinesiologist confirm my purpose is to make music. Everything that happens in my life points me in this direction.

WHAT'S YOUR LIVE SET UP LIKE?
From the very beginning my drive and attitude with making electronic music has been less is more. My challenge has been to be able to inject as much soul as I can into very basic tools at my ready. I’m the 1st to admit that not all my sounds are polished at the highest level but this leaves room for grit and honesty. I use a laptop and a midi controller.

IF YOU COULD DESCRIBE YOUR SOUND IN THREE WORDS, WHAT WOULD THEY BE?
Manic, angelic, poetic.

WHO ARE SOME OF YOUR MAJOR MUSICAL INFLUENCES?
Early on no one really stood out to me until I was 14... Led Zep and Jimi Hendrix would become the only sounds worth listening to. After finding the electronic world, Detroit sounds (Belleville Three, Mills, Hood, Craig, UR, Plus 8 with a dash of Warp Records virtuosity (Plaid, Autechre, Aphex Twin), and a strong Berlin influence too (Profan records, Chain reaction, Basic Channel) helped shaped me into what I do today.

WHERE HAVE YOU PLAYED AND WHAT WOULD BE A DREAM GIG FOR YOU?
I DJed a lot more in the late 90’s with greats like Derrik May, Dave Angel, Richie Hawtin, Stacey Pullen, Juan Atkins, Matthew Herbert, Adam Beyer, Marco Carola, Christian Smith, HMC etc… with nowadays happy to keep things more in the background playing at festival theme camps (Rainbow Serpent, Burning Seed with my crew Kamp Kraken + others) and focusing on making music, remaining humble and happy, not concerned about any spotlight. My dream gig is making music… but I would love to play an official set at Rainbow Serpent. One of my fav festivals.

WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FORWARD TO MOST ABOUT YOUR SHOW AT THE ESPY?
To be honest I’m a little conflicted about playing as half of me is keen and excited to see how people respond to my madness and the other half… couldn’t give a shit.

WITH OTHER BATTLE OF THE BANDS COMPETITIONS AROUND, WHAT MADE YOU CHOOSE EMERGENZA?
As I’m being honest right now… you guys invited me to come play. What I found curious was I had been working a track/remix of an original I made, actually made the track back in ‘07, realized it had some potential so gave it an upgrade. After completion I renamed the track “Emergence” only to have an email about a week later from you guys, Emergenza, asking if I would like to compete. Took it as fate.

For more details on the show at The Espy, September 12th, click here.